Particulate Collector for Drums

ABSTRACT

Collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling out of a drum during mixing. The collector has a body with opposing curved end, an outer and inner surface, a first and second vacuum port extending from the outer to the inner surface, first and second angled hollow pipes, each having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first or second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body. When the collector is placed in the drum, the first and second pipes rest on the drum&#39;s rim, such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the pipes, particulates present in the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims one or more inventions which were disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/721,208, filed Nov. 1, 2012, entitled “PARTICULATE COLLECTOR FOR DRUMS”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to the field of particulate collectors. More particularly, the invention pertains to a particulate collector for drums.

2. Description of Related Art

In many facilities, powders are mixed together to form a powdery compound product which are either sold outright or are further processed by mixing the powdery compound with other products. This mixing often needs to occur within a hood or a specialized area within the facility due to the particulates that end up in the air during the mixing of powders. The problems that can arise during the mixing process of powders in large volumes include, when the powder is poured into a container, for example drums, the powder particulates billow out and create a mess. The powder particulates can also be harmful if breathed in by users preparing the powdery compounds. Additionally, when the powders or the powdery compound are mixed together, additional particulates are created during the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip. The collector has a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, a first and a second angled hollow pipe, each having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first or second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body. When the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum, the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe rest on the rim of the opening at the point where the first portion and the second portions meet; such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe and the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows an outer surface of the particulate collector

FIG. 2 shows a partial view of one of the ports of the particulate collector.

FIG. 3 shows the inner surface of the particulate collector.

FIG. 4 shows an angled view of a portion of an inner surface of the particulate collector near a port.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the inner surface of the particulate collector.

FIG. 6 shows an interior edge of the particulate collector.

FIG. 7 shows a particulate collector with a clamp for attaching the collector to a drum.

FIG. 8 shows a particulate collector placed in a drum and connected to a vacuum through hoses.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the particulate collector within a drum.

FIG. 10 shows another view of a particulate collector within a drum.

FIG. 11 shows a top view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an interior view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an alternate interior view of a particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic of the particulate collector of a second embodiment of the present invention within a drum.

FIG. 15 shows a side view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic of the particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention within a drum.

FIG. 17 shows a top down view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a section of the particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line D-D of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 shows side view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a schematic of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows another view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows a detailed view of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention from B as shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line A-A of FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line E-E of FIG. 17.

FIG. 25 shows a section of a particulate collector of a third embodiment of the present invention along line C-C of FIG. 17.

FIG. 26 shows a bottom top view of a left hand clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

FIG. 27 shows another view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

FIG. 28 shows a side view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

FIG. 29 shows another side view of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

FIG. 30 shows a bottom top view of a right hand clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

FIG. 31 shows a schematic of a clip for securing the particulate collector to the drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-7 show a particulate collector 100 of an embodiment of the present invention and FIGS. 8-10 show the particulate collector 100 engaging a drum. The drum 60 preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum 60 has an outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60 surrounding an opening 64.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the outer surface 23 of the particulate collector 100 of an embodiment of the present invention. The particulate collector 100 has a semi-circular shaped body with two vacuum ports 2, 4 which extend from the outer surface 23 to an inner surface 24. The semi-circular shaped body preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60. The particulate collector 100 in an embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60. The outer edges 25 of the particulate collector are preferably curved outward as shown in FIGS. 6-7 to aid in maintaining contact between the inside of the opening 64 of the drum 60 and the particulate collector 100 through friction. The outer edges 25 are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip 62 of the rim of the drum 60.

An inner chamber 30 of the particulate collector 100 of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3-5. The inner chamber 30 of the particulate collector 100 is defined between an upper protruding rim 21, an inner surface 24, and a lower protruding rim 22 of the body.

The first vacuum port 2 of the particulate collector receives an inner end of a first angled hollow pipe 6 with a tubular body, which is rotatably secured within the port 2 by an outer washer 8 on the outer surface 23 of the collector and an interior washer 10 on the inner surface 24 of the collector. The first angled hollow pipe 6 preferably has a 45 degree bend defined by a first surface 3 and a second surface 5 of the first angled pipe 6. An outer end of the first angled pipe 6 receives a first vacuum hose 66.

The second vacuum port 4 receives an inner end of a second angled hollow pipe 12 with a tubular body, which is rotatably secured within the port 4 by an outer washer 14 on the outer surface 23 of the collector and an interior washer 16 on the inner surface 24 of the collector. The second angled hollow pipe 12 preferably has a 45 degree bend defined by a first surface 13 and a second surface 15 of the second angled pipe 12. An outer end of the second angled pipe 12 receives a second vacuum hose 68.

By rotatably securing the pipes 2, 12 within the ports 2, 4, the pipes 2, 12 can be rotated 360 degrees relative to the collector 100 to adequately attach vacuum hoses 66, 68 to the outer ends of pipes 2, 12 and place the collector 100 on the drum 60 without having the attached vacuum hoses 66, 68 interfere or get kinked.

FIGS. 8-10 show the particulate collector 100 of an embodiment of the present invention engaged with a drum 60. The particulate collector 100 is placed within the opening 64 of the drum 60 such that the first surface 3 of bend of the first angled hollow pipe 6 and the first surface 13 of the bend of the second pipe 12 rest on the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. The first angled hollow pipe 6 and the second angled hollow pipe 12 of the particulate collector 100 rest at a 45 degree angle relative to the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. This angle allows for the vacuum hoses 66, 68 to connect to the particulate collector and without interfering with the drum 60.

A first vacuum hose 66 has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner(not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe 6 and a second vacuum hose 68 has a first end coupled to the same vacuum cleaner (not shown) as the first vacuum hose 66 and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe 12. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the inner chamber 30, and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening 64 of the drum 60. Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through the first and second pipes 6, 12 and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hoses 66, 68.

In an alternate embodiment, a clip 50 is used to maintain contact between the particulate collector 100 and the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. The clip 50, as shown in FIG. 7 has a hook portion 51 defined by a top portion 52 and a first leg 53. The hook portion 51 of the clip 50 receives the upper protruding rim 21 of the collector 100. When the clip is attached to the collector 100, the first leg 53 of the hook portion 51 is adjacent the outer surface 23 of the collector 100. Attached to the hook portion 51 of the clip 50 is a second flexible leg 54 that receives at least the outer lip 62 of the drum 60 between the first leg 53 and the second leg 54. This arrangement allows the particulate collector 100 to be secured to the outer lip 62 of the drum 60 from the top.

In an alternative embodiment, the particulate collector 100 may be secured to the lip 62 of the drum 60 from the bottom.

While the particulate collector in FIGS. 1-10 is shown as being a solid piece with a fixed length, the particulate collector can also be retractable on itself, allowing for an adjustable length to fit different capacity drums.

FIGS. 11-13 show a particulate collector 200 of a second embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 14 shows the particulate collector 200 engaging a drum 60. The drum 60 preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum 60 has an outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60 surrounding an opening 64.

FIG. 11 shows the outer surface 223 of the particulate collector 200 of a second embodiment of the present invention. The particulate collector 200 has a semi-circular shaped body with two hollow pipes 202, 204 integrally formed therein and vacuum ports 201, 203 which extend from an outer surface 225 of the body to an inner surface 224 of the body. The hollow pipes 202, 204 can couple to a vacuum hose without any additional pieces.

The semi-circular shaped body of the particulate collector preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60. The particulate collector 200 in the second embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60. The outer edges 225 of the particulate collector 200 are preferably curved outward as shown in FIGS. 12-13 to aid in maintaining contact between the drum 60 and the particulate collector 200 through friction.

An inner chamber 230 of the particulate collector 200 is defined between an upper protruding rim 221, an inner surface 224, and a lower protruding rim 222. At opposing ends of the particulate collector 200 are slots 232, 234. The slots 232, 234 define an opening 235, 236 that is greater than the thickness of right and left clips 300, 310 to allow movement of the clips 300, 310 within the slots 232, 234. Also present within each of the slots 232, 234 is a stop 240, 242. The opening 243, 244 defined between the slot 232, 234 and the stop 240, 242 is equal to the thickness of the clips 300, 310.

The left clip 300 has a body 304 with a top surface 303, side surface 301, a bottom surface 305 and a lip 306 extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface 305 as shown in FIGS. 26-29 and 31. The lip 306 is angled such that a leading edge 308 is greater in height than the other edge 307 of the lip 306. The right clip 310 has a body 313 with a top surface 312, side surface 318, a bottom surface 314 and a lip 315 extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface 314 as shown in FIGS. 27-31. The lip 315 is angled such that a leading edge 317 is greater in height than the other edge 316 of the lip 315.

To secure the particulate collector 200 to the drum 60, the particulate collector 200 is placed within the opening 64 of the drum 60 such that the hollow pipes 202, 204 are resting on the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. The left and right clips 300, 310 are then aligned with the outer lip 62 of the drum 60 such that the lips 306, 315 of the clips 300, 310 can slide under the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. Once the lips 306, 315 of the clips 300, 310 are aligned to engage underneath the outer lip 62 of the drum 60, the clips 300, 310 are slid towards the hollow pipes 202, 204 within the slots 232, 234, pulling the particulate collector 200 within the drum 60 and angling the particulate collector 200 within the drum 60 for particulate collection.

Referring to FIG. 14, a first vacuum hose 66 has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner (not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the first hollow pipe 202 and a second vacuum hose 68 has a first end coupled to the same vacuum cleaner (not shown) as the first vacuum hose 66 and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the second hollow pipe 204. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the inner chamber 230, and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening 64 of the drum 60. Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through the first and second vacuum ports 202, 204 and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hoses 66, 68.

FIGS. 15-25 show a particulate collector 400 of a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 shows the particulate collector 400 engaging a drum. The drum 60 preferably has a capacity of 15 gallons or more. The drum 60 has an outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60 surrounding an opening 64.

The particulate collector 400 has a crescent shaped body with curved outer ends 425, an outer surface 423 and an inner surface 424, vacuum ports 437, 438 extend from the outer surface 423 to the inner surface 424, and a collection chamber 431 formed adjacent the outer surface 423. A hollow pipe 402 with an outer end is connected to an opening 401 in the collection chamber 431. The hollow pipe may be integrally formed with the body of the particulate collector as in the second embodiment of secured to the body through washers as in the first embodiment. The hollow pipe 402 is preferably connected to a bottom of the 426 of the collection chamber 431 as shown, although the hollow pipe may be connected to other portions of the collection chamber 431. The hollow pipe 402 is preferably at a 20 degree angle relative to the bottom 426 of the collection chamber 431. The collection chamber 431 is connected to an inner chamber 430 through the vacuum ports 437, 438.

The inner chamber 430 of the particulate collector 400 is defined between an upper protruding rim 421, an inner surface 424, and a lower protruding rim 422. The upper protruding rim 421 and the lower protruding rim 422 are semicircular shaped and preferably corresponds to the shape of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60 with the back end of the particulate collector extending out from the drum 60. Vacuum ports 437, 438 allow air to flow from the inner chamber 430 and into the collection chamber 431. The particulate collector 400 of the third embodiment of the present invention is shaped and sized to communicate with only a portion of the outer lip 62 along the rim of the drum 60. The outer ends 425 of the particulate collector 400 are preferably curved outward as shown in FIGS. 20, 22, and 25 to aid in maintaining contact between the drum 60 and the particulate collector 400 through friction.

At opposing ends of the particulate collector 400 are slots 432, 434. The slots 432, 434 define an opening 435, 436 that is greater than the thickness of right and left clips 300, 310 to allow movement of the clips 300, 310 within the slots 432, 434. Also present within each of the slots 432, 434 is a stop 440, 442. The opening 443, 444 defined between the slot 432, 434 and the stop 440, 442 is equal to the thickness of the clips 300, 310. The left clip 300 has a body 304 with a top surface 303, side surface 301, a bottom surface 305 and a lip 306 extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface 305 as shown in FIGS. 26-29 and 31. The lip 306 is angled such that a leading edge 308 is greater in height than the other edge 309 of the lip 306. The right clip 310 has a body 313 with a top surface 312, side surface 318, a bottom surface 314 and a lip 315 extending out axially outwards from the bottom surface 314 as shown in FIGS. 27-31. The lip 315 is angled such that a leading edge 317 is greater in height than the other edge 316 of the lip 315.

To secure the particulate collector 400 to the drum 60, the particulate collector 400 is placed within the opening 64 of the drum 62 such that the hollow pipe 402 is hanging outside of the drum 60. The left and right clips 300, 310 are then aligned with the outer lip 62 of the drum 60 such that the lips 306, 315 of the clips 300, 310 can slide under the outer lip 62 of the drum 60. Once the lips 306, 315 of the clips 300, 310 are aligned to engage underneath the outer lip 62 of the drum 60, the clips 300, 310 are slid towards the vacuum port 402 within the slots 232, 234, pulling the particulate collector 400 within the drum 60 and angling the particulate collector 400 within the drum 60 for particulate collection.

Referring to FIG. 16, a vacuum hose 66 has a first end coupled to a vacuum cleaner (not shown) and a second end friction fit onto the outer end of the hollow pipe 402. When the vacuum cleaner is turned on, a vacuum is created within the collection chamber 431 and the inner chamber 430, and as a result a downward draft is present over the opening 64 of the drum 60. Any billowing dust is caught within the downward draft and is sucked through vacuum ports 437, 438, and into the opening 401 of the hollow pipe 402 and into a vacuum container (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner coupled to the vacuum hose 66.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip, the collector comprising: a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, a first angled hollow pipe having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the first vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body; a second angled hollow pipe having a tubular body with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the outside surface of the body and received by the second vacuum port, the tubular body having a first portion and a second portion which meet at an angle at a point along the body; wherein when the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum, the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe rest on the rim of the opening at the point where the first portion and the second portions meet; such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the first angled hollow pipe and the outer end of the second angled hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.
 2. The collector of claim 1, wherein: the inner end of the first angled hollow pipe extends through the first vacuum port and is rotatably secured to the inner surface and the outer surface of the body by washers around the tubular body of the first angled hollow pipe, in contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of the body; and the inner end of the second angled hollow pipe extends through the second vacuum port and is rotatably secured to the inner surface and the outer surface of the body by washers around the tubular body of the second angled hollow pipe, in contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of the body.
 3. The collector of claim 1, wherein the angle at which the first portion of the tubular body and the second portion of the tubular body of the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe meet is 45 degrees.
 4. The collector of claim 1, wherein the opposing curved ends of the body are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip of the rim of the drum.
 5. The collector of claim 4, wherein an overall shape of the body is semicircular.
 6. The collector of claim 1, further comprising a clip for attaching the body of the particulate collector to the drum, the clip comprising: a hook portion for receiving the upper rim of the body, coupled to a second leg, the outer rim of the drum being received between the hook portion and the second leg of the clip.
 7. The collector of claim 1, wherein the curved ends of the body engage an inner surface of the opening of the drum, such that when the body is inserted into the opening of the drum, supported by the first angled hollow pipe and the second angled hollow pipe, the curved ends of the body maintain a position of the collector within the opening of the drum through friction.
 8. The collector of claim 1, further comprising slots formed in the body adjacent to the curved ends of the body.
 9. The collector of claim 8, further comprising at least a first clip and a second clip, each clip being slidably received within the slots formed in the body.
 10. The collector of claim 9, wherein each clip comprises: a body with a top surface, a side surface, a bottom surface and a lip defined by a first edge and a second edge, the lip extending axially outwards from the bottom surface and angled relative to the bottom surface such that the first edge is extends further axially outwards than the second edge.
 11. The collector of claim 9, wherein the slots define an opening that is greater in size than a thickness of the first and second clips.
 12. The collector of claim 11, wherein the opening of the slots further comprises a stop that has a thickness equal to the thickness of the first and second clips.
 13. A particulate collector for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and for preventing particulates from spilling over a top of an opening of a drum during mixing of material in the drum, the opening being defined by a rim with an outer lip, the collector comprising: a body with opposing curved ends, the body having an upper rim and a lower rim, an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper rim, lower rim and inner surface defining an inner chamber, the body having a first vacuum port and a second vacuum port extending from the outer surface to the inner surface; a collection chamber on the outer surface of the body surrounding at least the first vacuum port and the second vacuum port, the collection chamber having a hollow pipe with an outer end for attachment to a vacuum cleaner and an inner end mounted to the collection chamber; wherein when the body of the particulate collector is placed in the opening of the drum and rests on the rim of the opening; such that when a vacuum cleaner is connected to the outer end of the hollow pipe, particulates which are present in the opening of the drum are sucked into vacuum cleaner.
 14. The collector of claim 13, wherein the opposing curved ends of the body are curved to correspond to a curvature of the outer lip of the rim of the drum.
 15. The collector of claim 14, wherein an overall shape of the body is semicircular.
 16. The collector of claim 13, further comprising slots formed in the body adjacent to the curved ends of the body.
 17. The collector of claim 16, further comprising at least a first clip and a second clip, each clip being slidably received within a slot formed in the body.
 18. The collector of claim 17, wherein each clip comprises: a body with a top surface, a side surface, a bottom surface and a lip defined by a first edge and a second edge, the lip extending axially outwards from the bottom surface and angled relative to the bottom surface such that the first edge is extends further axially outwards than the second edge.
 19. The collector of claim 17, wherein the slots define an opening that is greater in size than a thickness of the first and second clips.
 20. The collector of claim 19, wherein the opening of the slots further comprises a stop that has a thickness equal to the thickness of the first and second clips. 